Legal Update: Children's voices in proceedings

Events over the summer have paved the way for the increased inclusion of "children's voices" within UK family justice proceedings. But there is still some distance to go before the right of children to participate in the decisions that affect them is fulfilled comprehensively across all justice settings. The lack of age-appropriate communication skills among professionals, in the UK and Europe, negatively impacts on children's ability to realise their right to participation. Fortunately, recent activity by the European Union may go some way towards instigating the changes needed to address this shortfall in training.

Two months ago, justice minister Simon Hughes revealed the government's intention to support strengthened participation of children within family justice proceedings, promising that "from the age of 10, children will have access to the judge, in an appropriate way, to make clear their views as to what is the best resolution of the family dispute in their interest". This announcement was welcomed as an opportunity for children to have their views listened to directly, rather than assumed by those around them.